Hwajing Travel and Astro Ocean Cruises have entered a strategic partnership to establish Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal in Penang as a regional cruise hub and homeport for the M/V Piano Land.
The announcement ceremony was attended by Dato’ Yeoh Soon Hin, Chairman of the Penang Port Commission and Deputy Chairman of Tourism Malaysia, alongside Kenny Cheong, Managing Director of Hwajing Travel & Tours, and Jian-feng Tong, Vice President of Astro Ocean Cruise, Dato V. Sasedharan, CEO Penang Port Sdn Bhd among others..
The M/V Piano Land will set sail on its maiden voyage from Malaysia on November 30, 2025, marking a historic moment as the first Chinese cruise ship to behomeported in Malaysia. This collaboration also represents Hwajing’s second major international cruise venture, following the successful homeporting of an Italian cruise ship last year.
The upcoming itineraries include: 3-day, 2-night sailing: Penang – Port Klang – Penang and 4-day, 3-night voyage: Penang – Langkawi – Port Klang
Passengers will have the flexibility to embark from either Penang or Port Klang, offering enhanced convenience for both Malaysian travelers and tourists from neighboring countries.
“In line with Transport Minister YB Anthony Loke’s vision to position Malaysia as a premier homeport destination, we are committed to driving the nation’s cruise tourism agenda forward,” said Dato’ Yeoh.
“By encouraging travelers to begin and end their cruise journeys in Malaysia, we aim to boost tourist arrivals, generate employment opportunities, and showcase Malaysia’s vibrant culture, heritage, and cuisine on the global stage.”
Kenny Cheong added, “Welcoming M/V Piano Land to Malaysia underscores our commitment to making cruise holidays more accessible and enriching for both Malaysian and Southeast Asian travelers. This milestone is especially meaningful as Hwajing celebrates its 36th anniversary this year.”
In addition to the regular sailings, Hwajing will offer a special 6-night New Year Countdown Cruise, departing from Port Klang and visiting Singapore, Nha Trang, and Hong Kong. Guests will enjoy a festive celebration at sea, culminating in a spectacular fireworks display over Hong Kong’s skyline, viewed directly from the ship as it welcomes 2026 in grand style.
“The deployment of M/V Piano Land is a key milestone in the company’s strategic expansion across Asia,” said Jian-feng Tong. “We believe its unique ‘culture and cruise’ model will effectively stimulate cruise travel demand in Malaysia and neighboring markets.”